Automated Tennis Stroke Counter and Analyzer

ABSTRACT

An electronic device that automatically counts and measures power of the impacts of a tennis ball with a tennis racket during play. The housing of said device comprises a mounting apparatus which is mechanically configured so that a player using said device will be able to easily mount said device on a tennis racket or on the player&#39;s arm. Said device is electronically configured so that a player using said device is able to keep a count of the type of tennis strokes that are struck by the player during the course of play. Said device is further configured so that it is able to count the total number of strokes hit by a tennis player. Said device is further electronically configured so that a player using said device is able to determine the amount of force that a tennis ball makes against a tennis racket with each contact with a tennis ball. Said device is further configured with a display that will allow for a player using said device to read information provided by said device.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates generally to a device that is capable of counting the number of contacts made between a tennis racket and a tennis ball. Said device is further configured to be capable of measuring the power generated by each contact of said tennis ball with said tennis racket, and the type of shot that was made.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

There has been a need for a device that will allow for the counting of the number of times a tennis racket impacts a tennis ball during play, and the power developed by each impact. The information garnered from such a device would be invaluable to both a tennis coach and student, and tennis players in general. Currently tennis coaches and players have no automated technique or device for counting each contact of a tennis racket against a tennis ball, and determining the amount of power generated by each contact. Further, no known automated device for keeping track of the types of strokes utilized with each contact exists. Until this writing, this type of data has been acquired solely by individual observation or video analysis, the latter requiring players and coaches to spend significant time gathering and accessing data via peripheral devices such as manual charting, video cameras, and computers. These approaches are time consuming, awkward, and inefficient. Traditionally, data cannot be shared easily among players or coaches. Clearly there is a need for a device that dramatically improves tennis training efficiencies by providing valuable data instantly in a consistent format. The device of this invention enables players and coaches to monitor and analyze tennis strokes in ways that have not been possible before. Clearly there is a need for a device that can automatically count and analyze contacts of a tennis racket with a tennis ball, and give detailed information about those contacts. No prior art has been found that can perform this task. The device of this invention is programmed and capable of determining the number of impacts and the power of each impact if the person utilizing said device is moving the tennis racket forward as in a tennis stroke, or is holding the tennis racket static as in a volley. In the case of a volley, the impact of the tennis ball alone will result in a count and measurement of power. With the device of this patent, human motion is not required to count and measure strokes. Currently there are several devices that attach to the user, and are configured to count certain human motions, or keep track of the score and statistics in a tennis match. Larry A. Wright and Muldoon in U.S. Pat. No. 5,466,775 describe a device that is configured to count certain human motions, such as pitching, casting a fishing rod, or throwing. Solomon Yakoby and Chad Wainer in U.S. Pat. No. 5,898,751 describe a device that attaches to a tennis player which is configured to count the number of aces, winners, unforced errors, double faults, forced errors, and other causes of won and lost points in a tennis match. The operator of the device manually enters statistical information. Currently there is no device that is capable of automatically counting the number of ball contacts with a tennis racket, the number of ball contacts over a period of time, the type of stroke hit, or the power of the impact of the ball with the tennis racket. Clearly there is a need for such a device.

BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

In accordance with the preferred embodiment of the invention, there is provided a device that is electronically configured to count and analyze tennis strokes. Said stroke-counting feature of said device enables a player or coach to compare performance among players at comparable levels and to make comparisons with higher performance goals. Said counter maintains a count of the total number of impacts a tennis racket makes with a tennis ball made by a player utilizing said device. In addition, said counter will count the total number of impacts of a tennis ball over a chosen and pre-selected time period, the power of each impact, and the type of stroke that made the impact. In the preferred embodiment, said counter with timed settings creates a high level analysis of a player's tennis skills which gives players and their coach's critical goal-setting and performance measurement capability.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWING

FIG. 1 is a front view of the Automated Tennis Stroke Counter showing a view a tennis player will have when using the device.

FIG. 2 is a side view of the Automated Tennis Stroke Counter showing a view a tennis player will have when using the device.

LIST OF REFERENCE NUMERALS

With regard to reference numerals used the following numbering is used throughout the drawings:

-   1. Watch housing -   2. Mounting means (strap of the like) -   3. Locking apparatus -   4. Primary digital display -   5. Secondary digital display -   6. Tertiary digital display -   7. Mode button 1 -   8. Mode button 2 -   9. Mode button 3 -   10. Mode button 4 -   11. Mode button 5

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

Referring now to the drawings wherein the showing is for the purpose of illustrating a preferred embodiment for the present invention only, and not for the purposes of limiting same, FIG. 1 illustrates a front view of the present invention constructed in accordance with the preferred embodiment of said invention. The automated tennis stroke counter and analyzer generally comprises housing (1) defining a back surface, two side surfaces, a top surface and a bottom surface. Said housing is sized to contain an electronic circuit board and a plurality of displays and mode buttons for the purpose of giving information about a selected tennis exercise to a tennis player using said device. Said circuit board is physically mounted inside of housing (1) and electronically coupled with all displays and mode buttons utilized to operate the device of the present invention. Said circuit board is designed and configured to provide information to a tennis player using the device of this invention regarding the number of tennis ball contacts with a tennis racket by the player, the number of tennis ball contacts with a tennis racket by the player in a time segment, power of each contact, and type of contacts a ball makes with a tennis racket by the player.

Selectively and firmly attached to said housing is mounting means (2), a strap or the like, with locking apparatus (3). Mounting means (2) and locking apparatus (3) are configured to clasp said device in an advantageous position on the wrist or tennis racket of a tennis player utilizing said device.

Primary digital display (4) is electronically coupled to said configured circuit board and mounted within housing (1). Primary digital display (4) is configured so that by default it will display the date of a particular tennis exercise.

Secondary digital display (5) is electronically coupled to said configured circuit board within housing (1) and physically mounted in said housing. Secondary digital display (5) by default is configured in a ball contact counter mode so that said digital display will show the number of contacts a tennis ball makes with a tennis racket being utilized by a tennis player during an exercise. The reading on secondary digital display (5) will advance one digit with each ball to racket contact by a tennis player.

Tertiary digital display (6) is electronically coupled to said configured circuit board within housing (1) and physically mounted in said housing. Tertiary digital display (6) is configured by default to timed exercise mode so that it will display the time that has elapsed during each tennis exercise by a tennis player.

In the preferred embodiment of the present invention, mode button 1 (7) conveniently emanates from housing (1) so that mode button 1 (7) can be pressed by a user. During an exercise, when mode button 1 (7) is pressed, the mode of display (5) is changed from its default ball contact counter mode to timed hitting mode. Said timed hitting mode is electronically configured to keep track of the number of ball to racket contacts made by a player in a pre-determined time frame. The number of ball to racket contacts is displayed on secondary digital display (5). Additionally, the time period for said exercise is displayed on tertiary display (6).

In the preferred embodiment of the present invention, mode button 2 (8) conveniently emanates from housing (1) so that said mode button can be pressed by a user. Pressing mode button 2 (8) changes said function of secondary digital display (5) from ball contact counter mode to power level mode. Secondary digital display (5) will now provide a reading for the last ball to racket contact made by a tennis player. Further, the device of the present invention is configured with an auditory electronic power sensor indicator that gives out an audible signal. Said signal reveals the power of a ball to racket contact by a player. A higher audible signal indicates a more powerful contact. When mode button 3 (9) is pressed, auditory power level mode is displayed on secondary display (5). Said auditory power level mode will give a digital reading of the power of ball to racket contact by a player, and also allows said player to confirm by audible signal the power level of a ball to racket contact.

When mode button 4 (10) is pressed a second time, a stroke differentiation mode is displayed on secondary display (5). Said stroke differentiation mode counts all racket stroke types during a particular exercise. Secondary display (5) initially shows F000 and B000. F signifies a forehand count. 000's following said F represent numerical values for the number of racket to ball contacts made with the forehand stroke by a player. Said display will advance one digit with each forehand ball to racket contact. After 244 forehand ball contacts against a tennis racket by a player, digital display F000 will read F244. B signifies a backhand count. 000's following said B represent the numerical value for the number of racket to ball contacts made with the backhand stroke by a player. Said display will advance one digit with each backhand ball to racket contact. After 244 backhand ball contacts against a tennis racket by a player, digital display B000 will read B244.

In the preferred embodiment of the present invention, mode button 5 (11) conveniently emanates from housing (1) so that said mode button 5 (11) can be pressed by a user. When mode button 5 (11) is pressed, the device of the present invention will electronically revert to default settings. 

What is claimed:
 1. A device used to garner information about ball to racket contact for a tennis player during a tennis exercise. Said device will aid a tennis player by determining and counting the number of impacts of a tennis ball with a tennis racket, the power of each impact, the type of stroke that created each impact, and the number of impacts in a period of time, created by the tennis player; said device comprising: a housing defining a back surface, two side surfaces, a top surface and a bottom surface. Said housing is sized and configured to contain an electronic circuitry apparatus, one or a plurality of displays, and one or a plurality of mode buttons for the purpose of giving information about a selected tennis exercise to a tennis player using said device. a mounting means configured so that said device can be advantageously attached on a tennis player or tennis racket in such a manner that said mounting device is capable of determining the stroke type, the number of ball to racket impacts, the number of ball to racket impacts in a period of time, and the degree of power of the impact of a tennis ball with a tennis racket created by a tennis player one or a plurality of display means selectively mounted in said housing and configured for the showing of information formed by said electronic device resulting from the impact of a tennis ball with a tennis racket by a tennis player; an electronic circuitry apparatus capable of detecting the characteristics of the impact of a tennis ball with a tennis racket by a tennis player.
 2. The device of claim one wherein said electronic circuitry apparatus is capable of sensing the characteristic of the impacts of a tennis ball with a tennis racket by a tennis player which will be configured with one or a selection of the following: an electronic circuitry sensor capable of counting the number of forehands struck by a tennis player; an electronic circuitry sensor capable of counting the number of backhands struck by a tennis player; an electronic sensor for determining the power of the impact of a tennis ball with a tennis racket by a tennis player; an electronic circuitry sensor for determining the number of impacts of a ball with a tennis racket over a period of time; an electronic circuitry sensor and device configured to yield an audible signal for the purpose of acting as an indicator of the power of the impact of a tennis ball with tennis racket by a tennis player;
 3. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein said housing has one or a plurality of pushbuttons electronically coupled with said electronic circuitry apparatus. Said pushbuttons are configured so a tennis player using said device can select one or more of the following functions to garner information about a tennis exercise: a mode that indicates the type of stroke hit by a player; a mode that indicates the power of contact of ball with racket; a mode that indicates the number of contacts of ball with tennis racket; a mode that indicates the count of ball contacts with racket per period of time; a mode that yields an audible signal which indicates the power of contact of ball with racket by at tennis player.
 4. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein a display means is configured to provide a tennis player with information about the number of each stroke type that made ball to racket contact, a power of contact of ball with racket mode, a count of the number of contacts of ball with tennis racket mode, and a count of ball contacts with racket per period of time mode.
 5. The device of claim 3 wherein a pushbutton emanating from said housing is configured to reset said circuitry apparatus and said display apparatus to default settings to make the device of this invention ready for an additional use. 